Fernandes makes it 'hip' to be Vikes' 5th state champ

ATLANTIC CITY -- With one big move, Voorhees senior Lewis Fernandes turned his dream into reality and ended the program's 20-year drought.

Fernandes stepped across with a whizzer and put Pennsville senior Kody Wood on his back for the pin in 3:00 to win the title at 285 pounds in the 85th State Wrestling Championships on Sunday at Boardwalk Hall.

Lewis Fernandes atop the podium at 285 pounds.

"My coaches do so much for me, I would be nowhere near where I am today without them," said Fernandes (43-0), who capped an unbeaten season with his first state title and the fifth overall for the Hunterdon County school -- its first since John Brienza won at 130 in 1998.

"If you want to succeed at Voorhees, they are there for you."

The only other finalist from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area was Phillipsburg senior Brian Meyer, who dropped a 5-4 decision to Toms River South senior Cole Corrigan at 152. Meyer (39-3), the Warren County school's all-time wins leader, was bidding to become its 34th champ and first since Brandon Hull won at 220 in 2012.

Fernandes, who also joined Glenn Hall (1981), Dan Moody ('83) and Lee Getz (1982) -- the only other heavyweight to win for Voorhees -- on the school's short list of champions, started his title run after converting a takedown 55 seconds into the first period. That was the turning point as he turned Wood twice -- with legs and a power-half for three points and a cradle for two more to build a 7-0 lead after two minutes.

Wood (42-1), who like Fernandes weighed in around 220 pounds, was looking to become the seventh champ at Pennsville and Salem County's first since heavyweight Mike Wariwanchik in 1995. He wisely took neutral to start the second period, getting in deep on a single-leg attempt about midway through and seemingly in good position to convert on it until Fernandes made a move that usually is ill-advised by coaches.

"I was working on hip pressure and bumping is my thing," said Fernandes, who raised his pin total to 27 on the season and set off a wild celebration, after, which included former coaches Bob Angstadt, Brian Baumann, now the school's athletic director, and family members.

"When I got on top, I was pretty happy after that first turn," said Fernandes, who will enter his senior season at 106-22 overall and in position to break the school's wins record held by Jadaen Bernstein (135-19), a two-time runner-up (2011 and '13) and the Vikes' last finalist until Fernandes became their 10th on Saturday night.

New Jersey's 14 state champions for 2018.

"I felt him ball up [underneath], and I moved his hips around to open him up. After that first turn, I was glad I got on top. I felt comfortable in the moment on this big stage."

Voorhees coach Eric Hall, a runner-up for the Vikes in 1996, came into the tournament feeling very confident that Fernandes, who will look to be the program's first two-time winner next season, could pull it off. In doing so, it kept the previous and newest title in the family as Eric's father, Bob Hall, who started the program in 1975, coached Brienza to his title.

"For our entire school and the wrestling program, it's a wonderful day," said Eric Hall, who has now coached seven placewinners, including Bernstein's three medals, in his eight seasons in charge. "It could not happen to a better kid. He's one of the hardest workers I've ever coached. And the way he won was amazing."

The fact that it had been 20 years since Brienza's championship run in this same arena -- which also resulted in a pin of Christian Brothers Academy's Dave Santamaria -- was pretty amazing as well. It further illustrated how tough it is to win a title.

"All the stars have to align," Hall said. "We were fortunate to be in the finals twice with Jadaen. This is pretty special."

Fernandes, as he's done in previous years, won't have to break out a Sharpie pen to craft a new sign on his wall for next season. He can leave up the current one that reads, "Two-time state champion."

"This is a special feeling for the moment," said Fernandes, who plans on getting back to work in about a week, including doing some freestyle wrestling, though he claims he isn't very good in that style. "At the end of the day, [as a junior], you're still competing for the same goal [a state championship] as everyone else. I will have to work just as hard [to repeat]."

CHAMPIONSHIPS

182 -- Sr. Bill Janzer (33-0), Delsea, d. Jr. Josh McKenzie (21-1), Bergen Catholic, 3-2 UTB.

195 -- Jr. Jacob Cardenas (28-4), Bergen Catholic, md. Sr. Sam Wustefeld (44-2), Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 10-2.

220 -- Sr. Peter Acciardi (37-2), Don Bosco Prep, d. Sr. Liridon Leka (41-4), Montville, 3-1.   

285 -- Jr. Lewis Fernandes (43-0), Voorhees, p. Sr. Kody Wood (42-1), Pennsville, 3:00.

106 -- Fr. Joey Olivieri (42-3), Hanover Park, d. Fr. Dean Peterson (36-2), St. John Vianney, 6-3.

113 -- So. Anthony Clark (36-2), Delbarton, d. Jr. Samuel Alvarez (35-2), St. Joseph-Montvale, 3-2.  

120 -- So. Robert Howard (36-1), Bergen Catholic, d. Sr. Michael Polito (37-1), East Brunswick, 5-2.

126 -- Sr. Patrick Glory (40-0), Delbarton, d. Sr. Joe Heilmann (44-1), South Plainfield, 7-0.

132 -- Jr. Lucas Revano (39-4), Camden Catholic, d. Sr. Kyle Slendorn (42-2), Howell, 4-3.

138 -- Sr. Quinn Kinner (44-0), Kingsway, md. Sr. Jake Benner (39-3), Ocean Township, 11-2.

145 -- Jr. Ricky Cabanillas (41-1), DePaul, d. Sr. Nick Bennett (37-7), Delsea, 5-2.

152 -- Sr. Cole Corrigan (40-0), Toms River South, d. Sr. Brian Meyer (39-3), Phillipsburg, 5-4.

160 -- Sr. Shane Griffith (39-1), Bergen Catholic, d. Jr. Robert Kanniard (45-1), Wall, 6-1. 

170 -- Sr. Michael O'Malley (40-0), Hasbrouck Heights, d. Jr. Christopher Foca (28-5), Bergen Catholic, 7-2.  

Donald Ringler Award (Outstanding Wrestler) -- Quinn Kinner, Kingsway.